PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA– Virginia Senator L. Louise Lucas earned her reputation as a fierce and outspoken advocate during her political career. One issue, in particular, has been at the forefront of her agenda: marijuana legalization, which she says disproportionately affects members of the African-American community.
She felt strongly about the issue, sponsored a legalization bill and opened her own cannabis store. It is now under the microscope as federal law enforcement appears to have raided the business. It wasn’t immediately clear what they were looking for, but attention was drawn to Lucas and her 34-year career in politics.
In 2019, she became the state’s first black woman to assume a leadership position as Senate president pro tempore after Democrats took control of the majority.
The following year, she appeared at a protest at the Confederate monument It led to felony charges Against it. The judge later dismissed these charges.
Lucas was born in Portsmouth and worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard earlier in her life, where she was the first female shipfitter, according to her biography in the state library.
She was CEO of a Portsmouth company that manages housing, day programs and transportation for mentally disabled adults. In 2021, Lucas opened a store in her hometown of Portsmouth, The Cannabis Outlet, which sells legal cannabis and CBD products.
“Let’s talk about cannabis,” Lucas said in a social media post on
that An armored vehicle belonging to the FBI and several agents She was seen outside Lucas’ cannabis store on Wednesday. The FBI would only say it was conducting a court-authorized search warrant in Portsmouth.